Title: Zedekiah / 2 Kings 24:8-25:12
Zedekiah / 2 Kings 24:8-25:12
1. Jehoiachin
When his father Jehoiakim died, Jehoiachin became king at the age of 18 and reigned for three months. According to 2 Chronicles 36:9, it is precisely three months and ten days. Also, in 2 Chronicles, it is said that he ascended to Wei at the age of eight, but the Jewish rabbis interpret this as follows. It is said that the father Jehoiakim established his son Jehoiachin as the heir when he was eight years old and gave him the right to participate in the rulership. When Josiah's successor was selected, his servants made his half-brother Jehoahaz, two years younger than him, king. Therefore, the next king was appointed early and placed on the throne. So Jehoiachin received the right to the throne at the age of eight, and actually inherited the throne at the age of 18. However, the son who was trying to inherit the throne was taken captive three months and ten days after he ascended to the throne.
2. Zedekiah's Personality
Nebuchadnezzar captured Jehoiachin and made his uncle Zedekiah king. Zedekiah was a half brother to Jehoiakim, and a true brother to Jehoahaz, who was captured and killed in Egypt (2 Kings 23:31, 36, 24:18). Although Jehoiakim was his older brother, he did not become king. And it seems that Nebuchadnezzar knew that even after becoming king, his relationship with Zedekiah was not very good. Zedekiah was a weak king. Personally, I was afraid in front of Jeremiah, but when I was pushed back by my princes, I treated him harshly (see Jeremiah 38:4-5, 14-26, 1 Samuel 15:30).
3. He straightened his neck and hardened his heart (2 Chronicles 36:13).
Looking at people's eyes, I straightened my neck and hardened my heart before God. In the end, they were abandoned by God (Jeremiah 39:1,2). It is the same today (Matt 10:28 Gal 1:10). 'Man sits in darkness and in the shadow of death, and is bound with afflictions and chains, because he disobeys the word of God and despises the will of the Most High' (Psalm 107:10-11). will sit down. He said, 'You will sit in the shadow of darkness and death', but you are being dragged into a reality where you feel like you are about to die. It is said that those who can dwell in the tent of the Lord are those who 'honor those who fear the Lord' (Psalm 15:4, cf. 2 Chronicles 36:15,16) 'From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah to this day, twenty-three years. The word of the LORD came to me during the time, saying to you, "I have spoken diligently, and you have not listened; the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you, and diligently sent them, but you did not listen, and you did not listen to them." Jeremiah 25:3,4)
4. Zedekiah's Betrayal
The will of God conveyed by Jeremiah was to serve Babylon and its king because it was God's punishment to serve Babylon. “According to all these words I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “You and your people shall put their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and they will live” (Jeremiah 27:12; Jeremiah 38:17-23). ) Nevertheless, Zedekiah betrayed Babylon after hearing the words of his servants to use the power of Egypt to control Babylon. 'Zedekiah betrayed the king of Babylon' (2 Kings 24:20b) Pharaoh Hobra (Jer 44:30) promised Zedekiah that he would help Nebuchadnezzar in rebellion against him. He B.C. In 588, according to that promise, he sent troops to Judah. 'When Pharaoh's army came out of Egypt, the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news and departed from Jerusalem' (Jeremiah 37:5) The Babylonian army had no choice but to break the siege of Jerusalem to fight them with the advent of the Egyptian army. There wasn't. But God said this (Jeremiah 37:5-10).
5. The End of Zedekiah
Zedekiah was captured and taken to Nebuchadnezzar in Libnah. Nebuchadnezzar killed all of Zedekiah's sons before his eyes. Then they took their eyes off, bound them with chains, and led them to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7). He was imprisoned until the day he died, and then he died (Jeremiah 52:11).